July 30-Aug. 3, 2012

Today in the News Media

Today in the News Media is a synopsis of some of the most prominent coverage of OSU people and programs. Inclusion of any item constitutes neither an endorsement nor a critique, but rather is intended only to make the OSU community aware of significant items in the media.

Ed Ray, president of Oregon State University and chairman of the NCAA’s Executive Committee, said the events at Penn State, and the sanctions handed down on Monday, should “serve as a wake-up call to everyone involved in college sports that our first responsibility … is to adhere to the fundamental values of respect, fairness, civility, honesty, and responsibility.” (see also the New Yorker, UPI, Portland Business Journal)

The northern spotted owl would actually benefit in the long run from active management of the forest lands that form its primary habitat and are increasingly vulnerable to stand-replacing fire, researchers conclude in a recent study announced today by Oregon State University. (see also KVAL, Science Newsline)

Oregon State University researchers came to the conclusion after analysing data obtained from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey on more than 4,300 adults above 60 years. (see also Oregonian,The Examiner, New Zealand Herald)

Scott A. Mickelson and his wife, Caryn, included their alma mater, Oregon State U., in their wills: “We wanted to make sure that our son was taken care of. Once we were sure he would be all right, we decided to include Oregon State.”

Many farmers now in the throes of an extreme drought in the U.S. Midwest that is devastating corn and soybean crops and threatening to send food prices soaring might concur, although it’s not yet clear whether this dry spell is part of the broader trend, noted Beverly Law, a professor of global change biology at Oregon State University and a co-author of the study. (see also Science Blog)

In a small pond north of Corvallis, something is wrong with the frogs. About 90 percent have at least one extra leg.
Sometimes it’s up to 15 legs, says Andrew Blaustein, professor of zoology at Oregon State University. The culprit seems to be a parasitic infection that causes mutations.

Oregon State University has gotten a $1.4 million federal grant to do work on plant genetics research aimed at poplar trees that could grow on marginal land not suitable for crops and provide biomass for energy. (see also Bend Bulletin, Gazette-Times)

Oregon State University, state and federal agricultural researchers are experimenting with using a parasitic wasp to control the crop-damaging brown marmorated stink bug. The tiny wasp lays its eggs inside the stink bug eggs, killing the host as the wasp matures. (see also Oregonian)

For Lt. Gabriel Burgi, a career in the United States Navy not only gave him a direction in life, it provided him a chance to inspire other young people looking for the right path. Burgi is the surface warfare instructor for Oregon State University’s Naval Reserve Officer’s Training Corps (ROTC), and has been stationed at OSU since February 2011.

Jim Myers, professor of horticulture at Oregon State University, used conventional crossing (not genetic modification) of experimental selections to breed the much darker Indigo Rose, which he released this year.

Oregon State University, ZeaChem Inc. and other partners this week landed just over $7 million in research grants from the U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. Department of Agriculture as part of a federal push for innovation in biomass, bioenergy and other plant-based products.

The overall fatalities are tiny compared to 30 million beef cattle nationwide. That means the fires will have minimal effect on beef prices, which already were high due to a drought-related spike in feed costs and demand from export markets, said Dave Bohnert with the Oregon State University Extension Service. (Warning: This story has graphic details) (see also Albuquerque Journal)

Besides evacuation routes, the maps display orange and yellow lines showing where past tsunamis have reached. They also include research by Oregon State University tsunami experts who have calculated how fast a tsunami will reach shore, where people will run and how quickly they need to reach safety.

It’s so common that LaJean Lawson, Ph.D., adjunct professor of exercise and sport science at Oregon State university and Champion’s ‘go-to guru’ in sports bra research, design, and testing for more than 25 years, estimates that only 15-20 percent of women are wearing the best bra for their shape.

“We’ve linked together high carbon dioxide water with the failures in those hatcheries,” said George Waldbusser, assistant professor of ocean ecology and biogeochemistry at Oregon State University. “They were basically on the verge of failure in 2008.”

That means “taking a look at how we might be able to help OSU-Cascades create a four-year university here,” Eager said, “because of the benefits that has for our city’s economic development, and jobs for the future.”

It would not be a stretch to say that recent Oregon State University graduates John and David lead lives that are remarkably intertwined; they were both home-schooled, volunteered for 4-H, attended community college and received the highest academic honors at commencement.

Sweating in the warm July sun, a group of Oregon State University students laughed and joked as their garden hoes struck the soil in unison. Scattered around the SAGE Community Garden at Starker Arts Park in southeast Corvallis, they were focused on pulling weeds and planting potatoes, a task many of them had never before attempted. (see also Gazette-Times)

A 2009 report from Oregon State University researchers estimates that an invasion of mussels could cost $25.5 million annually in Columbia River dam maintenance, costs that could be passed on to ratepayers.

In the early days, WSI had a handful of employees in the rarefied business space. But after a conversation with friend Matthew Boyd — whom Faux met while they were graduate students studying bioresource engineering at Oregon State University — Faux realized his company could become bigger and different.

Bird Research Northwest, a years-long project of Oregon State University, the U.S. Geological Survey and Real Time Research, has been documenting the number of young salmon eaten by water birds of the Columbia River Basin.

This fall, David Zhu will join an exodus of Chinese students boarding planes for the leafy, beer-soaked campuses of American colleges and universities. Zhu, currently a student at Shanghai’s prestigious Fudan University, will be enrolling at Oregon State University to pursue a bachelor’s degree in business — a dream his parents have had since they started saving a $157,000 nest egg for his education.

Monday

Associate University Librarian for Learning and Research candidate presentations:The OSU community is invited to attend finalist presentations for this position. Presentations are to be held in the Willamette Seminar Rooms in Valley Library: Carrie Donovan, Indiana University, 9:15-10 a.m., July 30.

Wednesday

Summer concert: The Wednesday@Noon summer concert features country music by the Shinkle Band. The concert takes place in the brick mall by the OSU Bookstore.

Afternoon Public Sale at the OSUsed Store: The OSUsed Store is open for its public sale Wednesday, 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. at 644 SW 13th St. Departments may shop weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. with the exception of Wednesday mornings, but personal purchases may only be made during public sale hours. For more information, please visit our website

Upcoming Events

NEW! OWN board recruitment: Interested in helping to organize and provide feedback on the OSU Women’s Network (OWN) training sessions, interest groups, and other events for the upcoming year? Looking for a place to support women on campus? OWN is recruiting for several vacant board member positions. We meet Mondays the second week of each month 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., usually in the Pangea board room. Plan on coming to our first fall meeting on Sept. 10 from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. in the Women’s Center. Email elizabeth.thomas@oregonstate.edu with questions.

NEW! Oak Creek Center for Urban Horticulture 5th Annual Field Day: Wednesday, Aug. 22, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Highlights include work on the restoration of Oak Creek, organic gardening, permaculture, annual plant trials, hedgerow construction, green towers, vegetable gardening, urban chickens, beekeeping and green roofs. The Oak Creek Center for Urban Horticulture is located on the northeast corner of 35th Street and Western Boulevard.. It is accessed via a drive on the eastern side of 35th between a street bridge crossing Oak Creek (south) and the railroad tracks (north). For more information call 541-737-2503.

BBQ with the Beavs: The annual barbecue takes place Aug. 11 at 1:30 p.m. in the Valley Football Center parking lot, immediately following the second full-gear practice of the season. Cost of the event is $15, $5 for kids 12 and under. The second BBQ with the Beavs is Aug. 31 at Portland’s World Trade Center, 121 SW Salmon St. The event begins at noon; cost is $20, $10 for kids 12 and under. The World Trade Center is located at Benny Beaver will make appearances at both events, as will OSU’s cheerleaders and band. There will also be inflatable games for the kids. To register to attend BBQ with the Beavs: https://www.ourbeavernation.com/events/

News for Employees

NEW! Pew Scholars Program in the Biomedical Sciences: The Research Office, Incentive Programs is requesting letters of recommendation. The Pew Scholars Program supports assistant professors of outstanding promise in science relevant to the advancement of human health. Letter of recommendation guidelines: http://oregonstate.edu/research/incentive/pew_scholars_program. Deadline to Research Office, Incentive Programs: Sept. 4. Information: Martha Coleman, Director of Principal Gifts for Foundation Relations at Martha.coleman@oregonstate.edu.

NEW! NSF – Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) in Engineering and Computer Science Site program: The Research Office, Incentive Programs is requesting letters of intent. The RET Engineering and Computer Science Sites are based on independent proposals from engineering or computer and information science departments, schools or college to initiate and conduct research participation projects for a number of K-12 STEM teachers and/or community college faculty. Letter of Intent guidelines: http://oregonstate.edu/research/incentive/research-experiences-teachers-ret-engineering. Information: Debbie Delmore debbie.delmore@oregonstate.edu. Deadline to Research Office: Aug. 20.

NEW! NSF – Partnerships for Innovation: Building Innovation Capacity (PFI: BIC): The Research Office, Incentive Programs is requesting letters of intent. This program starts with an existing sound scientific and/or engineering-based research discovery that can be translated to market-valued solutions through a partnership between academe and small technology-based businesses. Letter of Intent guidelines: http://oregonstate.edu/research/incentive/NSF_PFI_BIC. Deadline to Research Office, Incentive Programs: Aug. 13. Information: Debbie Delmore debbie.delmore@oregonstate.edu.

NEW! NSF – Alliances for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (AGEP) – Transformation Program: The Research Office, Incentive Programs is requesting letters of intent. The program intends to support strategic alliances of institutions and organizations to develop, implement, and study innovative evidence-based models and standards for STEM graduate education, postdoctoral training, and academic STEM career preparation that eliminate or mitigate negative factors and promote positive practices for URMs. Letter of intent guidelines: http://oregonstate.edu/research/incentive/AGEP-Transformation. Information: Debbie Delmore. Deadline to Research Office, Incentive Programs: Sept. 4.

NEW! NSF – Advancing Digitization of Biodiversity Collections (ADBC) Program: The Research Office, Incentive Programs is requesting letters of intent. This program seeks to enhance and expand the national resource of digital data documenting existing vouchered biological and paleontological collections and to advance scientific knowledge by improving access to digitized information residing in vouchered scientific collections across the United States. Letters of intent guidelines: http://oregonstate.edu/research/incentive/advancing-digitization-biodiversity-collections-adbc. Information: Debbie Delmore. Deadline to Research Office, Incentive Programs: Sept. 10.

Smoke free campus: OSU will become a smoke-free campus on Sept. 1. Learn more about the non-smoking policy, download educational materials, and request printed items to distribute within your department or to visitors who will be coming on campus. Find it all at http://oregonstate.edu/smokefree

NSF – Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Talent Expansion Program (STEP) – Type 1: The Research Office, Incentive Programs is requesting letters of intent. The STEP program seeks to increase the number of students receiving associate or baccalaureate degrees in established or emerging fields within STEM. Type 1 proposals are solicited that provide for full implementation efforts at academic institutions. Letter of Intent guidelines: http://oregonstate.edu/research/incentive/nsf_step_type1. Deadline to Research Office, Incentive Programs: Aug. 8. Information: Debbie Delmore debbie.delmore@oregonstate.edu.

NSF – EarthScope – SAFOD Management Office (SMO): The Research Office, Incentive Programs is requesting letters of intent. This solicitation invites single or collaborative proposals for a new SAFOD SMO. The SMO will ensure that SAFOD is operated, managed, and maintained in a manner that facilitates ongoing use of SAFOD for independent PI-driven Earth science research. Letter of Intent guidelines: http://oregonstate.edu/research/incentive/nsf_earthscope_safod_management_office_smo. Deadline to Research Office, Incentive Programs: Aug. 13. Information: Debbie Delmore debbie.delmore@oregonstate.edu

Beaver Champion Award: The Beaver Champion Award is given each year at University Day to an individual or individuals for outstanding effort and achievement of excellence, extra effort beyond that requested, and performance of the highest quality. The President’s office invites nominations for the 2012 Beaver Champion Award, which will be awarded on Sept. 18. Please send your letter of nomination to President Edward Ray, Office of the President, 600 Kerr Administration Building, OSU, Corvallis, OR 97331. Deadline for submission is Aug. 24.

The Electron Microscopy Facility is seeking a technician for a .50FTE, six-month appointment. Submit your resume and a cover letter to: Jennifer Hill at Jennifer.hill@oregonstate.edu. Closes Aug. 8, 5 p.m. Email subject line for your submission should be EMF Tech.

Student Health Services is currently seeking applicants for the position of Associate Director, Information Services. This position is a 12 month, full time, fixed term position. Posting 0009416. Closes Aug 8.

The Extension & Experiment Station Communications at Oregon State University is looking to fill one full-time Analyst Programmer, competency level 1 position. This is a limited duration appointment expected to last approximately 1 year from the appointment begin date. Posting #0009397. Closes Aug. 10.

INTO Oregon State University is recruiting for a Finance Assistant and Student Advisor. This is a dual role. The primary purpose of the role is to work with the INTO OSU Finance department in the role of accounting assistant, including student account maintenance, accounts payable and reconciliations. The secondary purpose is to support INTO OSU students with communication and advising relating to their student accounts. This job posting closes at midnight, Aug. 10. For immediate consideration email rhonda.maillard@oregonstate.edu or call 541-737-8899.

INTO OSU has an immediate need for an IT Manager. This technical position is responsible for managing the integration of OSU academic systems to meet the needs of INTO OSU. The IT Manager is required to pro-actively manage and take ownership of assigned systems issues and development projects involving the student information system and related systems. For a complete job description and additional details, please email Rhonda Maillard at rhonda.maillard@oregonstate.edu.

Traffic and Maintenance

ADA visitors: Transit & Parking Services now offers a four hour courtesy permit for visitors that allows parking in a regular ADA space when accompanied with a valid ADA Placard. This permit is for non-affiliated OSU persons and may be obtained at both the Information Booth located at Jefferson & 15th St and Adams Hall located at Washington Way & 15th St.

Adams Ave. parking lot: Due parking lot maintenance the Adams Ave, South Parking Lot will be temporarily closed. Signage of closure will be in place. This is necessary re-stripe the lot. This closure will begin at 7 a.m. July 30 and should end by 5 p.m.

Benton Place parking lot: Due to an event, Benton Place and the Benton Place Parking Lot will be temporarily closed. Signage of closure will be in place. The closure is to accommodate a fireworks display following the Corvallis Knights Baseball Game. This closure will begin at 5:00 p.m. Aug. 3 and should reopen by 7 p.m. Aug. 5.

Jefferson: Due to the installation of new underground utilities, Jefferson St. from 35th to 26th St. will experience intermittent congestion and delays up to 20 minutes. Traffic control and signage will be in place to guide traffic. The shutdown will end by 4 p.m. Sept. 28.

Finley Hall parking lot: Due to new construction, parking spaces east of the parking structure located in the Finley Hall parking lot will be temporarily closed. It is necessary for construction of the new OSU Bookstore. The lot should reopen by 5 p.m., Sept. 2.

Wilson Hall: Due to safety concerns with the construction associated with the Wilson Hall Project, Adams Street in front of Wilson Hall will be temporarily shut down. The shutdown will end at 5 p.m., Aug. 31.

26th St: Due to roadwork and signal installation, the north/south bound lanes & sidewalks between LaSells Stewart Center & Western Blvd. on 26th Street will be temporarily closed. Signage and traffic control will be in place to direct traffic. This closure will begin at 8 a.m. June 25 and should end by 5 p.m. Aug. 24.

Wilson Hall: Due to construction, the parking spaces south of Wilson Hall facing the building will be closed through Aug. 31.

30th Street: Due to the installation of the new ADA intersection at 30th and Campus Way, north and southbound traffic on 30th from Orchard Ave. to Jefferson Way will be closed through Aug. 13.

Swimming Pool: Due to mechanical system upgrades the swimming pool at the Women’s Building will be closed through Aug. 31.

Weather

Corvallis: After a nightmarishly long wet spring, we’re finally waking up to a real summer. We’ll see cloudy mornings and sunny afternoons this week, with highs in the mid to high 70s, gradually warming to the low 80s by week’s end.

Central Oregon: Clear and bright all week, with highs in the mid 80s and overnight lows in the high 40s to low 50s.